Hi, Story Nurse, I just outlined a romance novella and I'm trying to figure out its setting. It's basically contemporary, with the obvious AU-ness that comes along with a functioning fantasy-genre-style system of magic—but who won in 2016? Has that election even happened yet in this 'verse? Can I write a simple fluffball escapist-fantasy romance … Continue reading #103: Writing Fluffy Stories in Thorny Times
Just as protagonists in some ways embody the Big Idea of your story, supporting characters are often avatars of its themes.
Can you see ways to redefine "enough" and put it within your reach? Can you see ways to feel like enough right now?
There is no absolution; there are no clear-cut rules that you can strictly follow and thereby relieve your anxiety. There is only you, doing your best.
When you incorporate your research into your story, do it with a light touch. Keep your protagonist's or narrator's perspective at the front of your mind; don't harp on the things that they will find unremarkable or irrelevant.
You are totally permitted to just do the fun parts of this and skip the parts you dislike. Hobbies are for enjoying.
You're operating by improv theater rules, where as soon as a character introduces a new idea, you say "yes, and" to it. But this theater troupe answers to your direction.
